ALMOST four out of 10 women who had an abortion last year had already terminated at least one previous pregnancy, official new figures reveal.

Of these, 17,500 were on women who had aborted at least twice before, 4,500 were on women terminating at least a fourth pregnancy, 1,334 were having their fifth and 33 women underwent their ninth termination or more, including seven who were under the age of 30.

A Department of Health spokesman said they were concerned about the number of women undergoing “a very difficult and traumatic experience” more than once and stressed the need to offer “information about contraception”.

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: “Abortion is a fact of life and there is no ‘right number’.”

In the early hours of this morning, the Irish Government passed legislation allowing abortion for the first time. Termination of a pregnancy is now legal if a woman’s life is at risk.